The Anglo-Saxon Conquest

Anglo Saxon Conquest - AS tribes came from Northern Germany. The first invaders were the Jutes who arrived in Kent in 449. Shortly after, bands of Saxons established themselves in the South. The Angles occupied East Anglia and Northumbria. Between their arrival and the 7th century, they occupied the whole of England, pushing the Celtic tribes to the margins. Therefore, the tribes were pushed to the borders. This caused the creation of seven kingdoms: The AS Heptarchy (Northumbria, Mercia, Wessex, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex). It marked the beginning of Britain as a country and the English language. Each kingdom established its own rule and there was constant power struggle, leading to the downfall of some kingdoms. Between 450-1066 (Norman invasion), although sometimes they joined forces to fight a common enemy like the Vikings, this was rare. The most important kingdoms were Northumbria, Mercia, and Wessex.